Parking fees to be back on city roads

The BBMP has identified 85 roads in core Bangalore and has categorised them into three packages. Bicycle parking will be free. (Express/File photo: Suresh Nampoothiri)

Parking fees are likely to be back in three months. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to charge Rs 15, Rs 10 and Rs 5 for two-wheelers on roads categorised as A, B and C, while cars will have to pay Rs 30, Rs 20 and Rs 10, respectively.

The proposal will be discussed at the council meeting on Wednesday.

The BBMP has identified 85 roads in core Bangalore and has categorised them into three packages: These are premium parking (A), business parking (B) and ordinary parking (C). Bicycle parking will be free.

BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana told Express: “Once we get a nod from the Council, we will call tenders for the project. This move is just to formalise the parking system in the city.”

The Commissioner said they are planning to brand the move as Bangalore Initiative for Parking (BIP). “A unique logo will be put across identified parking places. With just the logo, people can recognise that there is parking space,” he said.

The government will give final approval for the tenders. It will take around three months for this procedure.

To overcome the old problem of the parking mafia, the new parking system will be automated. Both parking timings and fee will be computerised. A fare meter— like the ones in parking lots in malls— will be installed at these parking areas. This will be functional 24 hours all throughout the week.

Details of number of vehicles that can be parked and space in these parking areas will be monitored from a central control room. Details on space available on each street as well as nearby ones will be displayed on digital boards at parking areas.

There will be surveillance cameras at all parking lots. Estimated cost, including construction of lots, installing fare metres, road signboards and other expenses is Rs 80 crore.

Last year, the BBMP council approved the implementation of a uniform parking policy in the city and the same was approved by the government in March.

The Directorate of Urban Land Transport had prepared an action plan.

They concentrated on an area with east to west boundary from Halasuru to Sirsi Circle and south to north boundary from Lalbagh Main Gate to Palace Grounds.

The DULT survey found that within this area of Bangalore city, there was demand to create parking for as many as 4,800 cars and 10,000 two-wheelers.

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